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Sunday, 9 June 2013

One
of the most important skills one can master is the art of understanding the
power of change. I have known a change is needed for a while now but have not summoned
the courage to bring it into fruition.

Until
now.

My engagement
to writing is, like most others, unstable. It is constantly teetering on a thin
line between finding joy and self-esteem, and bored disillusionment at the
material I create - a relationship indicative of artist and art; the all too
self-conscious maker of things. Lately I've been stuck in a rut where I don't
find the things I produce interesting, nor do I have investment in the process
of its creation. Lost and Found was the product of many other failures in
blogging and a stubborn keenness to get it right. When I finally landed on
something solid that made sense to me, I began to stretch it to its
limitations....Which is where I am now. On the crux of something old and
expired, screaming at me to change direction.

I must
listen, but first I must break if I am to listen intently. Lost and Found, as
successful as it has been to me personally, is at a point where its horizons
have been met and further expansion is impossible. My decision to retire this
blog rests not on being fed up, but predetermining its decay and giving it a
respectable funeral.

The Wilds of Canada - Where I Belong.

Thus I shall
take a temporary hiatus from blogging, three weeks in length, to focus on my
new venture, "Aaron UnCanadian" - set to launch on July 1st -
Canada Day itself. I am dedicating myself to the form of writing I feel best
suited for and find the most passion in - story writing and capturing. Themed
on an ambitious 16 month endeavor to save, organize and embark on a journey
across Canada, "Aaron UnCanadian" is promised to rearrange everything
we think we know about The True North - both good and bad. This is not a blog
about igloos and maple syrup, but a pushing of authentic Canadian people,
stories, things and events into the fore of our county's people....and the rest
of the world.

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

What?
The
Whippoorwill – a new brunch/dinner joint at Lansdowne and Bloor. Sandwiched in
between the gadabout shops and mismatched cafes is the classically redesigned
restaurant, formerly known as the Bloordale Pantry. The Whippoorwill
specializes in taking ordinary brunch fare and transforming it into whimsically
extraordinary dishes. While the seating selection isn’t superior, the service
and food surpasses par.

Whippoorwill's version of an eggs benedict. Giggity!

My first experience here was on my last
birthday; the Whippoorwill is a short walk from my new apartment, which is
either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at a fairly
overweight yet satisfied Aaron. We had poached eggs on a buttery biscuit (soooo
buttery) with hollandaise and asparagus. The biscuit took this meal into the
realm of taste-bud euphoria, but it was the second half of the meal that became
a highlight. Referenced as the ‘breakfast bruschetta of the day’, an
unbelievable combination of sweet and savoury atop a slice of toasted French
stick etched a memory on my taste buds. Ours had apricot, cream cheese,
dandelion, roasted pine nuts, and a bunch of other things I can’t remember
because this was three weeks ago. Bottom line: get the breakfast bruschetta.

Oh, I also had a mimosa. Cause it was my
birthday. So what?

Where?
The
Whippoorwill is another perfect example of gentrification on this stretch of
Bloor. As development from either end encroaches, small indicators of a
changing neighbourhood pop up; the Whippoorwill is no exception. No longer
considered a ‘seedy’ part of Toronto, ‘Blansdowne’ is now clustered with hipster-esque
establishments and old Portuguese bakeries. For a community in transition, it’s
a great stretch to go at any time of day or night as a non-destination
area…(yet).

Go
Again? Yes
– as one of the few joints in the area that specializes in breakfast, this
place is a must go. I would try their dinner menu, but wouldn’t hold it to the
awesomeness bestowed upon me during the meal earlier in the day. Although
brunch doesn’t start until 11am, I would make sure I get there early as the
venue is small and packs up easily. For a meal that defies normalcy, the
Whippoorwill has made its mark on breakfast cuisine in an area that screams for
something different.

Sunday, 2 June 2013

It is a proven and accepted fact that
long term isolation in rural areas can easily lead to mental instability,
depression and severe anxiety. I’ve written about my first hand experiences
with the cognitive effects of my own journeys into the bush, recalling moments
of moroseness and temporary insanity while I slip into the state slanged as
‘bushed’, but what of the opposite? Can one experience similar consequences
after prolonged periods of time away from
nature?

While cities offer access to many
important facets of life - education, healthcare and social support, etc., what
they sometimes lack is a close relationship to the big wide world beyond the
hinterlands. Just as we tend to go a little crazy when separated from the
comfort of our devices and the luxuries of the modern world, it is also true
that a lack of wild places can lead to major stress. Balancing urban life with
nature can be tough, and I’ve responded with a list of scenic reprieves easy
accessible within Canada’s largest city, so that in between shopping sprees and
fine dining you can:

1)Hike the Humber River

Humber River in Fall

Hiking is the perfect outdoorsy
activity. Fully accessible and friendly to all ages, there’s no better way to
experience a little nature than on foot. Henry David Thoreau, the forefather of
modern environmentalism and wilderness romantic, quotes on his work Walking: ‘We
should go fourth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying
adventure, never to return’. So, if HDT said it, you better go for a damn walk.

And what better place than the Humber
River? With a variety of trails to enjoy, including paved for bikes and
families or off-path for the more adventurous, the Humber accommodates all, with
the added bonus of being freakin’ huge. From its summit in Toronto’s North End
at Steeles and Islington the river and surrounding parkland runs south to
lakeshore, yielding a plethora of options for trailheads and access points. If
hiking is your game, Humber River is the name.

2)Tree Plant in Rouge Park

Achieving oneness with nature doesn’t
always have to involve doing yoga on a mountaintop. Trade in your spandex pants
and smelly roll mat for a garden shovel and pair of gloves and get ready to get
dirty. The Rouge Valley in Toronto’s
East End is a perfect place to escape and offers plenty to recreational
activities. Did I mention this is Canada’s LARGEST urban park?

The Rouge Valley River

Planting programs are abundant in the
area and include the 10,000
Trees Project, Natural
Heritage Projects and other park-based planting programs. They are easy to
get involved in and help keep Toronto’s urban wild areas sustained. While you’re
taking advantage of parkland, why not contribute?

3)Take in the View from the Scarborough Bluffs

Looking up to the Bluffs from Bluffer's Park Beach

Looking for a little romantic getaway
but not interested in leaving the city? Or perhaps you want a workout beside
the perfect beachfront scene? Welcome to the Scarborough Bluffs – a naturally
eroded carving in Toronto’s lakeshore landscape that borders Scarborough along
Lake Ontario. A network of trails and parks can be found near the water, both
above and below the gorge, each offering unique activities. Places like Guildwood
Park and Gardens inject a little history into Toronto’s East Lakeshore
where a well-manicured setting surrounds hundreds of displaced artifacts, all significant
to the establishment of the area.

Further West is Bluffer’s Park,
complete with a wharf and beach boardwalk that winds all the way to Ashbridges
Bay. Climb the Bluffs for a wonderful panorama of Lake Ontario or discover the
unique ecosystems and tide pools at the water’s edge – the Bluffs are a ‘something
for everyone’ activity.

4)Get Schooled in High Park

Nature has a crapload of things to teach
us, and at an environmental education hub at High Park, there’s no end to what we
can learn. Close to downtown and just off the trendy Bloor West area, High Park
reaches from Bloor Street to the Gardiner Expressway and can be accessed via
subway. While you’re visiting, drop into the High
Park Nature Centre for a nature walk or see what’s growing at the High
Park Children’s Garden.

Other great on-site locations are the High Park Zoo and Colbourne Lodge
Museum. Take a walk around Grenadier Pond or check out the amazing Cherry
Blossoms – only in bloom a few days during each spring!

The elusive spring cherry blossoms in High Park.

Although this short list does not nearly
encompass all things nature-related in Toronto, it is meant to acknowledge the
wilder parts of the city; and the places we go to distress. Next time you’re
bogged down by city life, take some time to reconnect with Mother Nature. The
results might surprise you.

Welcome to lost and found!

I'm glad you've found your way over. This blog is maintained and operated by Aaron Turpin and cronicles the activities of a Student-Employee/Traveller/Creative Thinker. Check out what I've been up to lately by cruising the various tabs above and reading the posts. Leave a comment if you wish!

About Me

I am a curious person by nature and have an immense passion for learning and new experiences. Travelling and stepping out of my comfort bubble are huge parts of my life. I try to live creatively with everything I do while supporting the global community as both a leader and a student.